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The day of thanks, gratitude, appreciation, toasts and seconds of dry turkey to remote relatives rarely heard from unless they need money — is over.

Time now to bless those we adore, who are always there for us, who seeing us might meow or wag their tails, or who don’t do bad things — except for the Yorkie I have who just christened my new rug, a habit that, actually, takes after our family’s old uncle.

A pet prolongs life. With our world’s ongoing miseries, research says we mostly need something to love — and to love us.

Please, no animal without its owner, no owner without an animal. Also, before escorting Fido or Fluffy to a pew, walk it, swim it or . . . whatever it.

This is an hourlong service. A homily about creatures like in Noah’s Ark, carols from Roosevelt High School choir, police horses outside to be blessed. Then: police dogs with handlers down the aisle, procession of farm animals such as alpaca, pig, llama, chicken, goat. They’re followed by rescues to the altar. Next, our own pets. The ministry will bless each for the new year.

Tom Hanks has the role of Ben Bradlee, whom he knew before the editor’s dementia. Publisher Katharine Graham, whom Spielberg met at a Herb Allen conference, is played by Meryl Streep, who says: “These two real-life characters were a working relationship in which a man and woman could deal with the other — plus some accommodation to the male ego when the woman is the boss.”

The movie’s layout looks authentic. So was it shot in DC? No. White Plains.

Taste of loveWe just lost Della Reese, whose holiday fave was Minnie Pearl’s cookbook chess pie — which, in order to snag her husband, Della flew to him in Chicago. And her first Thanksgiving dinner? “Age 5, my job was to peel potatoes. To atone for chopping onions, my mom let me cut the cookies dough” … Another treat would’ve been West 27th’s fictitious inn, the McKittrick Hotel. This fab venue does “At the Illusionist’s Table” — 28 dinner guests at one banquet with one magician for a special evening.

Picture this
Madeleine Albright got hung at the National Portrait Gallery. Timothy Greenfield-Sanders did the portrait. Also honored, Spike Lee and Rita Moreno. After Robert Redford’s introduction, Albright sighed: “I’ve always been in love with him!” … Jan. 28, Steven Tyler gives his first ever Grammy-viewing gala. The party’s in LA. The awards, in NY.